After struggling mightily on the offensive end of the floor in 2012-13, the USF Bulls had hopes of improving in 2013-14. However that never came to fruition, with the Bulls going 12-20 overall and 3-15 in American Athletic Conference play as expected starting point guard Anthony Collins missed most of the season with a knee injury. As a result a change was made at the top, with Stan Heath being replaced by former Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua.

Among the questions being asked this summer is whether or not Collins will be a factor for USF as they look to climb out of the cellar in the American. In a video interview with USF play-by-play announcer Jim Louk, Collins speaks about both last season and his upcoming junior season.

“I’m committed to staying at USF,” Collins said when asked about his commitment to the program by Louk. “I was on the team when we went to the NCAA tournament for the first time in [about] 20 years, and I want to do it again. I want to be the first person here to do it twice; that’s what drives me.”

Under Antigua the plan is to play at a faster tempo, and if Collins can return to the level he played at in his first two seasons USF will have a capable point guard running the show. As a freshman Collins dished out 5.9 assists per contest (1.5 A/T ratio), increasing that number to 6.5 assists per game (2.4 A/T ratio) as a sophomore. With a new regime taking over and their lone double-digit scorer (Victor Rudd) gone, USF will need an effective Collins if they’re to make strides in 2014-15.

With Collins being 100% from both a health and a commitment standpoint, the Bulls are better positioned to be competitive now than they were for most of the 2013-14 campaign.